Local convenience stores are Having trouble keeping up with demand as teens are getting stoned from smoking a potpourri of herbs that are sprayed with a chemical that mimics marijuana. Is science ahead of the law?

Creative Artwork on the packaging.

Fourth Time’s a Charm…“Can I help you sir?”“Got any synthetic incense?” “Yes, just a few packages left”. The clerk reached beneath the counter and produced a little box that contained several 1 gram pouches of dried up green herb that resembled marijuana. This was my 4th time trying and they finally had some in stock (but was nearly sold out again). “I’ll have one of each”.“They’re $20 each (no tax)” the clerk stated. I paid 40 dollars for two little packets of what’s commonly referred to as K2, Botanical Inscence, Incense Marijuana, Fake Weed, Spice. People (especially teens) are flocking to little convenience stores and smoke shops here in Polk County purchasing this mystery substance. It’s not cheap either, I bought 2 grams at $20 a gram (1 gram amounts to about 1 heaping table spoon of incense).

Spicy Green (blueberry scent) and Diablo (strong citrus smell). Both packets contain the words “not for human consumption”. No matter, teens are buying this totally legal synthetic imitation marijuana and rolling it or stuffing it into pipes smoking it and getting blasted. Like marijuana, the user begins to build up a tolerance of the effects requiring them to smoke more fake weed in order to obtain a high. Soon, the high doesn’t last as long so they smoke it more frequently.

Two 1 gram packets ($20 each), purchased at a local convenience store in Livingston.

So Far, Here’s What We Know…Exotic herbs and other plants are blended and then sprayed or coated with certain chemicals that, when smoked creates a feeling of pleasure and euphoria. The stores sell the product as “incense” in an effort to mask their intended purpose. The high that people are experiencing is similar to that of marijuana but does not contain tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) the psychoactive chemical found in marijuana. Instead, fake weed contains synthetic chemicals known asJWH-018, and CP47,497. These manufactured chemicals mimic THC by affecting the cannabinoid receptors on the brain. Studies have revealed that the synthetic chemicals found in fake weed is actually much more potent than the natural THC found in marijuana. Because it’s not illegal, it can purchased over the counter by anyone, including minors.

According to CBS News, fake weed can cause Hallucinations. The report also states that some side effects can include vomiting and seizures. So far, fake weed is illegal in Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, and North Dakota. In the other states it is unregulated, but some states like New York, Georgia, Florida Illinois, Michigan, Missouri, Tennessee, and Utah are proposing legislation to outlaw fake weed.

This convenience store located off Business 59 in Livingston politely sold us the goods.

Putting 2 and 2 together: Since it's totally legal, it's easy to see probationers and parolees from prison smoking the fake weed and passing their urinalysis test. It's also easy to figure that there will be many driving under the influence.